Pitch in to help area children in need

Thursday

Dec 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The issue: Canton Ex-Newsboys

The issue: Canton Ex-Newsboys

At this time of the year we are reminded of how lucky we are, how much we have to be thankful for and that many of our neighbors might not be as lucky. Our community is — and always has been — a generous one. We routinely give to many local charities and extend a helping hand to those in need.

Tomorrow, the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association will be hawking their newspapers to raise money for shoes and clothing for local schoolchildren, just as they have done every year for the past 53 years.

The Ex-Newsboys’ motto is “That No Child Shall Miss School for Need of Shoes or Clothing,” and since 1960 the Newsies have raised more than $3 million for coats, shoes and other clothing for kids in Stark County.

Karl ‘Butch’ Kraus Jr., president of CENA, points out that every dollar raised goes to the children of Stark County. The Ex-Newsboys are not paid; this is a labor of love and they generously donate their time and energies all year to make sure kids have the basics to attend school. They estimate they have helped more than 45,000 children through the years.

Of course, the Ex-Newsboys can’t do this alone. They have partnered with a number of local businesses, including The Repository, to make this event the success it has become. It takes a village, and the Newsies have pulled this coalition together, year after year, at great personal expense to benefit the children. Last year they raised more than $168,000 in their one-day newspaper sale.

So please be generous; a pair of shoes might not seem like a lot to some, but it can make the difference for many of our children.

In addition to giving financially, please consider becoming an Ex-Newsboy. You do not have to be an ink-stained journalist or newspaper carrier, you just need to be 18 years of age with a passion for helping your neighbors and friends.

If you are interested, please call 330-454-9461, ext. 1667, or visit their website at www.cantonexnewsies.com.